Mugabe stripped of health chief role

THE World Health Organisation has reversed its decision to make Robert Mugabe a goodwill ambassador after an international outcry.

On Friday, officials announced that Zimbabwe’s 93-year-old dictator could encourage other African governments to reduce heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

This was despite the fact that he has overseen the collapse of his country’s economy, causing poverty and average life expectancy to fall by 17 years. The British Government described the move as ‘surprising and disappointing’ and a coalition of 2 international health organisations said they were ‘shocked and deeply concerned’.

Yesterday the WHO released a statement saying the appointment had been ‘rescinded’ and suggested even Zimbabwe thought it was a bad idea. Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is Ethiopian, said he had ‘reflected’ on the appointment over the weekend. On Friday he had said he was ‘honoured’ to make Mugabe an ambassador.

But yesterday he said: ‘I have listened carefully to all who have expressed their concerns, and heard the different issues that they have raised.

‘I have also consulted with the government of Zimbabwe and we have concluded that this decision is in the best interests of the World Health Organization.

‘I thank everyone who has voiced their concerns and shared their thoughts. I depend on constructive debate to help and inform the work I have been elected to do.’

Despite his ill health Mugabe has pledged to remain Zimbabwe’s president until his death.

One organisation pointed out that he travels abroad for medical treatment, spurning hospitals in his homeland.

At the height of Zimbabwe’s crisis in 2009, the UN was feeding 7million Zimbabweans, more than two-thirds of the population.

Mugabe: World health tsar From Saturday’s Mail